We were lucky to catch up with Shahed Mohseni Zonoozi recently and have shared our conversation below.
Shahed, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
It centers around their belief that everyone possesses the seed of greatness within, waiting to flourish when nurtured in the right environment. As a child, my parents granted me the freedom to explore my interests and noticed my natural inclination for innovation and a deep desire to apply what I learned to achieve or create something meaningful.
Fortunately, they recognized that traditional schooling alone might not be the best way to nurture these qualities. Instead, they supported my exploration of how life and the universe work beyond conventional social norms.
They understood the importance of encouraging exploration while ensuring that my time and energy were purposefully spent. Their guidance directed me toward productive pursuits, instilling a sense of purpose and determination.
In essence, my parents created an environment that fueled my curiosity and cultivated a mindset of continuous learning. They inspired me to dream big, fearlessly explore, and believe in my significant potential to make a positive impact on the world. This upbringing has profoundly influenced my career as an entrepreneur, inventor, and innovator.
Their legacy of instilling the belief that every person carries the potential for greatness, given the right conditions, continues to shape my approach to entrepreneurship, mentorship, and my commitment to establishing a platform where artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs can share their stories, learn from one another, and thrive.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Shahed Mohseni Zonoozi, originally from Iran and now based in Los Angeles since 2016. My journey into the world of music, innovation, and entrepreneurship has been diverse and enriching.
My love for music began at a young age. When I was just eight years old, I started playing the Santoor, a traditional Iranian instrument.
In addition to recording several patents and receiving innovation-related awards by the age of 18, in 2011, as a musician I founded the InterContinental Concert Series (ICC) after finding inspiration in multicultural environments and collaborating with talented artists from various countries. The goal was to bring musicians from different cultures together to share our music, create unique compositions, and promote messages of peace and unity by fostering understanding of various cultures. ICC later evolved into the InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA).
ICMA is dedicated to honoring and promoting artists globally while embracing values that uplift humanity. We also provide music industry knowledge and training to artists in regions that may be distant from the main music industry hubs, helping them advance their careers as independent musicians. Throughout this remarkable journey, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with international artists from East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North and South America, fostering cross-cultural connections through music.
I’m incredibly proud of the positive impact that my team and I at the InterContinental Music Awards have made on the global music community over the past decade. Entrants, finalists, and winners have experienced great success. They’ve connected with industry peers, formed friendships with other winners from around the world, and engaged in successful collaborations. They’ve learned how to reach global stages and have embraced new opportunities, projects, and gigs.
Moreover, the City of Los Angeles recently recognized the InterContinental Music Awards for its exceptional contributions to the global music community, its unwavering dedication to promoting cross-cultural understanding through music, and its commitment to empowering artists and creatives worldwide. This recognition stands as a powerful testament to our vision and efforts at ICMA.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Let me share a mindset that might initially sound strange, but it’s a lesson I learned during a significant turning point in my life. When you have a compelling idea or a strong desire to create something, whether in your career or personal life, it’s essential to embrace it, even if you lack in-depth knowledge about it at the beginning.
I’ve discovered that having too much knowledge or overthinking can be discouraging. At the start of a new venture, you’re driven by the passion of seeing the final result, regardless of what’s in between. In fact, having less knowledge initially can be an advantage. It enables you to maintain a clear vision and unwavering commitment. You believe in your idea, and that’s what truly matters. You say to yourself, ‘I’m going to do this; I can do this; I should do this; I will do this.’ You’re not burdened by doubts or second-guessing. You don’t stop and think, ‘Perhaps this isn’t a good idea because of certain research findings,’ or ‘I read something in a publication that suggests this might not work.’
During those early stages, you press forward, learning as you go. Regardless of the obstacles you encounter, you remain focused on that vision, which propels you forward. You adapt, you grow, and you overcome challenges because your belief in your idea is unshakable.
This approach has helped me achieve many of my goals in life and my career. It’s a reminder that sometimes, not knowing too much can be an advantage, as it maintains your focus on your goal and your unwavering determination to achieve it.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Creating a positive work environment and providing opportunities for personal and professional growth are essential foundations for managing a team and maintaining high morale. However, the journey to exceptional team morale often requires some creative and unique approaches.
First, celebrate diversity, not just in words, but in actions. Embrace a variety of perspectives and backgrounds, as they can lead to more innovative solutions. Implement inclusivity training, host cultural exchange events, and actively seek out the input of quieter team members who might otherwise go unheard.
Second, empower the team by giving them autonomy to make decisions within their domain. Trust is a powerful motivator. Alongside this, institute a culture of recognition.
In addition, clear communication is crucial. Ensure that information flows freely, and team members understand their roles and responsibilities. Regularly provide updates on the team’s progress and encourage open dialogue for feedback and suggestions.
Lastly, the leader plays a key role in motivating and masterminding the team’s success. Lead, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and show genuine interest in each team member’s development. Recognize that your leadership style sets the tone for the entire team’s morale and productivity.
And don’t forget to occasionally surprise your team with fun, unexpected events or perks. Small acts of kindness can go a long way in maintaining high morale.
In the end, it’s a remarkable journey for the universe to bring us together at this specific time and location. This opportunity is profoundly valuable, having countless secrets for us to discover and unveil. In my opinion, it’s necessary for us to widen our perspective beyond the mundane aspects of office tasks, financials, and team inputs and outputs. What truly matters is the profound reason behind the universe placing each one of us in this moment and position. It’s this grander purpose that should guide and inspire us as we work together to achieve our shared goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.intercontinentalmusicawards.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intercontinental_music_awards/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterContinentalMusicAwards
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahedmohseni/
Image Credits
Shahed Mohseni Zonoozi InterContinental Music Awards